New Mexico Supreme Court considers whether death row inmates should still be executed

By lcsun-news.com

Published: 04/11/2018

SANTA FE - Defense attorneys for New Mexico’s two remaining death row inmates on Tuesday urged the state Supreme Court to consider an array of similar murder cases resulting in lighter sentences, as justices weigh whether to move forward with the executions in the state that no longer allows death sentences.

New Mexico repealed capital punishment in 2009 without canceling death sentences against Robert Fry and Timothy Allen in connection with two killings. New Mexico’s governor at the time, Bill Richardson, signed the repeal without commuting their sentences.

The state Supreme Court agreed in 2013 to consider appeals of death sentences against Fry and Allen in light of the repeal of capital punishment but has wavered on ground rules for deciding whether the death penalty still fits the crimes when considering other cases.